We're pleased to offer "Phish: Live Bait Vol. 01", a ten-track Phish Summer sampler, available now for free at LivePhish.com. We're giving away "Phish: Live Bait Vol. 01" fresh off Summer Tour, as a thank you for fans' continued support. Share it with your friends, pass the link around, trade the MP3s freely.

The tracks were cherry-picked from the band's first leg of their recently completed Summer Tour, and are fully mixed soundboards from LivePhish.com. Click here to stream "Phish: Live Bait Vol. 01" now or download MP3s - absolutely free.

Even in 2010, Trey has constantly changed his approach to the whale, indicating that he has yet to perfect its sound. I discussed Trey’s new-found affection for the whammy in an article earlier this year called “Trey’s New Favorite Toy“. However, at the time, not even I could have imagined the extent to which “the whale” would become a part of Phish’s sound in 2010. Today, we look back on the story of Ernest and the whale.

Many fans point to the “Chalkdust” from 7.10.99 [Live Phish 8] as the jam where the whale first emerged. I would agree, and considering Trey’s stated affection for that jam, it would be reasonable to assume that this was the point that sent him searching for the sound he had attained in those moments of pure musical satori.

Page’s piano figured predominantly in many maniacal jams, often bringing a retro feel to forward-looking pieces, while his use of the Rhodes was slicker than as ever, comping Trey’s minimalist sections perfectly. Mike Gordon, the man who has been there all along, continued his sonic dominance, leading and co-leading jams with masterfully unorthodox ideas. Throughout the Second Leg, Gordeaux’s ideas often spawned the most surreal segments of improv, as others were quick to follow his lead. But the most beautiful aspect of August was that all his band members finally caught up to him; most particularly, Big Ern. Learning a more cooperative way to play together, Trey and Mike can now legitimately be called the co-leaders of Phish. And with Trey’s new guitar boasting a much fuller sound, their tones work together like peanut butter and jelly.